I WILL LIFT UP MY CUP: Understanding the Heart of True Worship

By Akwasi O.Ofori

I Will Lift up My Cup is a book calling upon believers to devote their lives to the true worship of the Living God. It does this by drawing on the examples of Bible characters that devoted their lives to God in diverse ways. Drawing lessons from biblical characters, this book challenges today’s believers to reflect on their lives and devote them solely to God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9781512709759

Akwasi O.Ofori

Akwasi Oppong Ofori, an ordained minister of the Ghana Baptist Convention and first chairperson of the Association of Ghanaian Baptist Churches in North America. He is currently the pastor of Solid Rock Baptist Church in Aurora, Colorado, and author of The Recovery of Storytelling for Ghanaian Preaching. Originally trained as a teacher at the Wesley College of Education in Kumasi Ghana, he has undertaken extensive theological education, first in Ghana at the Christian Service University College in Kumasi and abroad at the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Prague. He has also studied at the Denver Seminary in Colorado and at the Toronto School of Theology of the University of Toronto in Canada. Rev. Ofori is married to his wife of twenty-eight years, Betty, with whom he has three girls: Benefaa, Adwoa, and Abena.

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Copyright © 2015 AKWASI O. OFORI.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-0976-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-0977-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-0975-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015913619

WestBow Press rev. date: 06/21/2016

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1 — The Cups They Lifted Up

Lifting Up the Cup as Appreciation

David and the People Who Lifted Up Their Cups

David: The Unique Choice

The Examples of Zacchaeus, Mary, and the Blind Man

The Cups They Lifted Up

Chapter 2 — I Will Lift Up My Cup

The Believer’s Task to Lift Up His/Her Cup

God’s Forgiveness and Human Mercilessness

The Significance of the Death of Christ for the Believer

The Extent of Christ’s Work

Chapter 3 — Lifting the Cup to the Name of the Lord, the Strong Tower

The Mystical Hands of God

An Inadequate Comparison

The Perfect Place to Seek Refuge

The Canopy of God

The Power Shared by the Trinity

The Demonstration of God’s Power

Chapter 4 — Lifting Up the Cup of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Traverses Cultures

Those Who Failed to Show Appreciation

The Significance of Appreciation

Thanksgiving with No Contingency

Appreciation in the Midst of Despair

The Supreme Work of Jesus for Believers

Chapter 5 — Lifting Up the Cup of Forgiveness

The Example of Jesus

Human Culpability

The Unmerciful Servant

The Forgiving Spirit of Joseph

The Forgiving Father

The Role of Prayer in Forgiveness

The Injury Caused by Not Forgiving

The Pain that Mercilessness Can Cause

Chapter 6 — Lifting up the Cup of Encouragement

The Shepherding Roles of Encouragers

The Leaders as Shepherds in the Early Church

Sincere and Insincere Encouragers

Barnabas the Model Encourager

Paul as an Encourager

Jonathan as an Encourager

Encouragers and Sensitivity

Only the Encouraged Can Lift Up Their Cups

Chapter 7 — Lifting Up the Cup in Our Substance

Giving Is for Everyone

Three Types of Giving

The Tithe

The Freewill Offering

Giving as Generosity toward Others

The Fruit of Generosity

Chapter 8 — Lifting Up the Cup with Sanctified Lives

Who Can Be Holy?

The Believer’s Quest for Holiness

Holiness, an Essential Requirement for Christians

The Influence of Holiness on the Believer

The Believer’s Role in Achieving Holiness

Two People Who Were Called to Lead Holy lives

CONCLUSION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Endnotes

What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?

I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.

Psalm 116:12-13

Dedication

This book is dedicated to all the members of Solid Rock, past and present.

Also to my family who bring out the best in me.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Writing a book looks like a solo effort because you are immerse in books as you study to gather your materials. Then after the materials are gathered you sit down to compose into a coherent piece.

However, every book is the inspiration of a myriad of people. These individuals and corporate bodies are an essential component and source for every writer.

First in such a long list will be Westbow Press. I would sincerely like to thank Westbow Press for their continuing support for my writing endeavors. Their partnership means so much to me.

My gratitude also goes to my family who supports me in everything I do. My wife Betty continuously advices me to see my knack for writing as a call of God. She thinks that the Almighty wants me to put into print those things He has taught me over the years.

As the book continued to take shape I will read it to my little girl Abena who was the only family member with me at that time.

Though as a child it was tough for her to comprehend what I was really saying she would occasionally nod as a sign of her understanding. Many times she would give me the thumps up. What an inspirational little woman she is.

I also want to thank Bob Mossman for his support. Dr. Mossman looked at my first draft and offered some suggestions for improvement.

My sincere gratitude also goes to Mike Klassen a local pastor in Denver for his invaluable advice. Beside these there were the members of Solid Rock Baptist Church with whom I first taught the materials which have been expanded in this book.

I cannot honestly conclude this section without acknowledging the invaluable contribution of Biblegateway.com an online Bible that is ready for all people to use. I could easily get the scriptures without typing everything from the scratch.

This show of gratitude would not be complete if I do not mention the many other people who might have unknowingly helped me in my personal development as a Christian. May the Lord bless every one of you.

INTRODUCTION

In a city I have visited several times, there is a street that runs northward through its entire length. This street serves as the main thoroughfare not only for the city but also for the entire area. Its importance stems partially from its role of dividing the city into east and west areas.

Furthermore, the main subway line in the city runs along this street to the northern suburbs. A further importance of the street is seen in the attractions it offers.

These magnetic spots include famous malls, restaurants, and hotels, among other things. As a famous street, it has its share of ignominy. It has several strip clubs and also serves as hunting grounds for drugs and prostitution.

As one is leaving the central business district on this street, the person will pass through another important street in the city, this one running east–west. At the intersection of these two streets is a famous strip club situated on the northbound street.

People come from different towns and countries to go to this place for adult entertainment. There is always a long line of taxis waiting in front of the strip club for customers. Because this street is busy, other vehicles stop on the opposite side either to drop off or pick up passengers.

When I visited this city, I would normally catch the northbound train south of the location of the strip club to connect to the eastbound train at the intersection of the two streets.

However, when the weather was good I would walk to the eastbound train. On the days I walked, my route would be on the northbound street to the main intersection.

One evening as I was going home, there was the usual long line of taxis in front of the strip club on the northbound street. On the opposite side several cars had stopped, further reducing the space available for moving traffic.

I noticed a lady who had opened her driver’s door attempting to get out. She left her door ajar for a while.

Suddenly I saw two taxicabs speeding down the road. Each was trying to overtake the other in order to pick up a person hailing a taxicab on the side of the road.

There was then a huge bang. One of the taxicabs had run into the open door of the car parked on the side of the street.

The impact of the crash ripped off the door from the car, leaving the driver sitting in the open, deeply shaken. As people rushed to her car, she just sat there speechless.

Suddenly, without any warning, she threw her hands into the air and began weeping uncontrollably. I surmised that her tears were not of sadness but of graciousness and relief.

Like this woman, it is natural for anybody who escapes death or gets something he or she was not expecting to show gratitude. Sometimes such a show of gratefulness can be hilarious. Other times it can be muted. However, no matter what response we show, the fact remains that the giver of relief deserves praise and adoration.

This is exactly what King David did when he became the recipient of God’s favor. His response to God’s largesse was to lift up his cup of salvation to acknowledge God’s benevolence.

The title of this book, I Will Lift Up My Cup, is derived from Psalm 116:12–13, which speaks of when David, out of his grateful heart, asked, "What shall I render to the Lord